Control apparatus



K. A. S I-M MOM CONTROL APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3, 19.1

1,3 6,032. Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

INVE'NTQR Karl A; Simmon ATTORNEY Wamsssss;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KARL A. SIMMON, OFEDGEWOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTINO HOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVAN IA.

CONTROL APPARATUS.

7 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, KARL A. SIMMON, a citizen ofthe' United States, and a resident of Edgewood Park, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Control Apparatus, of which the followin is a specification.

y invention relates to control apparatus and especially to a combination ofelectrical and fluid-pressure-actuated devices.

The object of my invention is to'provide a relatively simple, compact and inexpensive arrangement of the above-indicated character, whereby a train operator, through the agency of a single operating handle, may directly control certain electrical circuits and indirectly control other circuits through the agency of a fluid-pressure valve member that is rotatable with the circuit-governing shaft of the controller.

My invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in longitudinal section,

of a combined control apparatus constructed in accordance with my present invention;

and Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the lineII-II ofFig; 1.

Referring to the drawing, the structure shown comprises a controller of the wellknown drum. ty e embodying a main base or incasing mem er 1 that isprovided with an integral bottom plate 2 and a detachable top cover member 3; a plurality of operating shafts 4 and 5, in this case, respec tively corresponding to main-circuit and reverser-circuit connections; a plurality of sets of cooperating stationary and movable contact members 6 that are associated with the main shaft 4, and a control drum 7 that is mechanically connected to the reverser shaft 5; a fluid-pressure controlling or valve member 8 that is adapted for actuation by the main shaft 4; a second valve member 9, of a different type, that is likewise operated in accordance with the position ofthe main shaft 4; and an auxiliary fluid-pressure-operated device '10, in the present instance, a

line switch.

The main shaft 4 is provided above the top cover member 3 with the usual operat ing handle 12, and they lower end of the shaft issuitably journaled in the bottom plate member 2, while the cooperating stationary and movable contact members 6 are located intermediate the ends of the shaft within the incasing member 1. In the present case, the sets of contact members illustrated are of the well-known cam-operated type, although it will be appreciated that-my invention is not restricted to the use of this particular type of main circuit contact members and, if desired, the familiar drum contact-segments and cooperating control fingers may be employed. Inasmuch as such contact members 6 form no material part of my present invention, no further description thereof will be given, and if a more complete exposition is desired, reference may be had to my copending application Serial No. 149,487, filed February 19, 1917.

A suitable operating lever 154501 the reverser-circuit shaft 5 is provided upon the outer end of the shaft, while the lower end thereof is positioned in a suitable bearing member 16, whereby the desired movement is transmitted, through an appropriate linkage mechanism 17, to the operating shaft proper of the reverser drum 7. i

The fluid-pressure-controlling or valve member 8 comprises a stationary incasing member or box 20 that is secured to the bottom plate 2 of the main controller through the agency of suitable bolts 21, and a cupshaped movable member 22 that is centrally secured in any suitable manner to the lower end-extension 23 of the main-circuit shaft 4 to be operated in accordance with the movements thereof. An inlet pipe or passage 24 communicates between any suitable'source of fluid. pressure (not shown) and the valve member 8, while an exhaust pipe or passage 25 and an outlet pipe or passage 26 are also suitably associated with the valve member .8 for respectively exhausting fluid pressure from, and admitting fluid pressure to, the auxiliary fluid-pressure-operated device 10, as subsequently set forth in detail.

The movable cup shaped member 22 of 1 00 responding pipes or passages, whereby the fiuid-pressure-operated device 10 is normally in communication with the atmosphere or, in other words, fluid pressure is normally absent from the device 10.

However, as soon as the main-circuit shaft 4 is actuated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 to its initial operative position a, the slot 27 in the cup-shaped movable member 22 registers with the inlet opening of the pipe 24, while the exhaust port 28 is moved away from the opening of the exhaust pipe 25, and thus, fluid pressure is admitted from the pipe 24 through the valve 8 and the pipe 26 to the fluidpressnreoperated device 10, As soon as the maincircuit shaft 4 and, consequently, the valve member 8, are returned to the illustrated normal or off position, communication with the inlet pipe 24 is cut off, and the out let pipe 26 and the exhaust pipe 25 are placed in communication, through the valve member 8, to thereby exhaust fluid pressure from the device 10.

In this way, I have provided a relatively simple, compact, inexpensive and reliable means for controlling the action of a fluidpressure-operated device directly through the agency of a valve member that is dependent, for its actuation, upon the movements of the main-circuit governing shaft. If desired, and space conditions permit, the valve member 8 may, of course, be located within the incasing member 1 of the electrical controller, although the illustrated location is particularly advantageous with respect to accessibility and ready application to existing types of controllers.

Inasmuch as the particular fluid-pressureoperated device 10 that is employed is immaterial to my present invention, only a brief description of the specific apparatus shown will be necessary. In the present instance, a familiar type of line switch has been selected for illustrative purposes, although those skilled in the art will understand that other devices, such as pneumatic door-engines and the like, may readily be substituted for the illustrated device 10.

The switching device shown comprises an air cylinder 35, within which a suitable piston 36 travels, being biased to the illustrated position by a coiled spring 37. The piston rod 38 is mechanically connected, through a suitable insulator 39, to a linkage mechanism 40 that is associated in a wellknown manner with a movable contact-piece 41 that is adapted to electrically engage a corresponding stationary contact member 42 when the piston 36 is raised to its upper position. The base portions of the stationary and movable contact members are suitably mounted upon a stationary supporting member 43 of insulating material, in accordance with familiar practice.

The fluidpressure-controlling device 9 may also be employed in conjunction with the valve member 8, if desired, to likewise operate other switches of the illustrated type or pneumatic door-engines, etc, and is shown as comprising a valve of the puppet type, embodying a stationary incasing member or box 44 that may be mounted in any suitable manner upon the main incasing member 1 of the controller, as by a bolt 44, and a movable pin or rod member 45 that is biased through the action of a coiled spring 46 to the illustrated position to pre vent communication between an inlet pipe or passage 47 and an outlet pipe or passage 48 which normally communicates with an exhaust port 49. For the purpose of operating the puppet valve device 9, a suitablyshaped cam member 50 is secured to the main-circuit operating shaft 4.

Assuming the various parts to occupy the illustrated positions, the operation of the apparatus may be described as follows: Upon movement of the operating handle 12 in the forward direction, indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, communication is effected from the inlet pipe or passage 24 of the valve member 8 through thepipe 26 to the air cylinder 35 in the previously described manner, whereby the piston 36 is elevated to its upper position to effect the electrical engagement of the contact members 41 and 42 and thereby close the corresponding electrical circuits. Such closure is maintained throughout the subsequent forward operation of the controller by reason of the regis tering relation of the slot 27 and the inlet opening of the pipe 24 of the valve 8.

Likewise, either as the main-circuit shaft 4 is actuated to its first operative position, or at any other predetermined time, the cam member 50 presses the pin 45 inwardly to thereby efi'ect communication between the inlet pipe 49 and the outlet pipe 48 of the puppet valve device 9 and thus supply fluid pressure for any other desired purpose, as previously explained.

lVhen the main-circuit shaft 4 is returned to its illustrated or normal position, fluid pressure is exhausted from the air cylinder 35, through the valve member 8, to the exhaust pipe 25, as hereinbefore set forth, whereby the coiled spring 37 returns the piston member 36 to the illustrated position to thereby open the electrical circuit at the contact members 41 and 42. Likewise, the puppet valve device 9 returns to the illustrated position to cut off communication between the pipes 47 and 48 and to effect communication between the pipe 48 and the exhaust port 49.

I do not wish to be restricted to the specific structural details or arrangement of parts herein set forth, as various modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electrical control apparatus, the combination with an incasing member and a circuit-governing shaft member, of an in-' dependent fluid-pressure-operated auxiliary device, and a valve member havin its stationary and movable parts respectively attached to said incasing member and movable with said shaft member for admitting fluid pressure to said device under predeter mined conditions.

2. An electrical control apparatus, the combination with an incasing member and a circuit-governing shaft member, of an independent fluid-pressure-operated auxiliary device, and a valve having its stationary and movable parts respectively attached to said incasing member and said shaft member, a valve inlet opening and an outlet opening to said device being placed in communication by said valve in certain positions of the shaft member and a valve exhaust opening and said outlet opening being in communication at other times.

3. The combination with a multi-position controller having an incasing member and an operating shaft, of an independent fluidpressure-operated auxiliary device, and a "alve having its stationary and movable parts respectively attached to said incasing member and said shaft, a valve inlet opening and an outlet opening to said device being placed in communication by said valve in all operative positions of the controller and a valve exhaust opening and said outlet openin being in communication when the control er occupies its normal position.

4. In electrical apparatus, the combination with a mechanically-operated contact member and a fiuid-pressure-operated contact member, of common means for actuating both of said members.

5. In electrical apparatus, the combination with a movable contact member and a valve member independent thereof, of a plurality of cams for operating the respective members and acommon actuating handle for said cams.

6. In electrical apparatus, the combination with a switch for closing a circuit and a drum controller for controlling said circuit, of pneumatically-operated means for controlling said switch and common actuating means for said drum controller and said pneumatically-operated means.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this th day of January 1917.

KARL A. SIMMON. 

